About Us

Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine

Dr. Pedro E. McDougal grew up in the Dominican Republic, a beautiful Latin American island located in the Caribbean. The spirit and charm of this country is captured in its music, food, and national pastimes. His parents are actively involved in radio broadcasting as station owners and directors in The Dominican Republic. Dr. McDougal at the age of six, had his own children’s radio program called The Kingdom of the Children, but despite the excitement of broadcasting, he decided to become a physician to help others. In 1989, Dr. McDougal graduated from The Medical School of Pontifícia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in his hometown of Santiago, Dominican Republic. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Cornell University-affiliated hospital St. Barnabas in the Bronx, New York in 1995. The same year he became Board Certified in Internal Medicine.

Family Nurse Practitioner - Board Certified

Ms. Mejia was born in Belen Del Refugio, Jalisco, Mexico. In 1971, her parents migrated to the United States in search of a better life and greater opportunity. She attended school in Premont, Texas and graduated from high school in 1982. She obtained a licensed vocational nursing certification in 1983 from Bee County College. She worked part time at Brooks County Hospital, where she enjoyed working in the nursing field. She continued to expand her knowledge and expertise in nursing and received an Associate Degree in Nursing from the University of Texas-Pan American in 1990. She then obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at UTPA in 2001. She has over 20 years of nursing experience, expanding over a broad spectrum of specialties including emergency care, adult intensive care and women’s health. Wanting to transition into clinical practice, Ms. Mejia then received her Master of Science degree as a Nurse Practitioner also from UTPA in 2005. She has been part of the RGV Adult & Geriatrics Medicine team since 2006.

Maria R. Rodriguez was born in México. She was raised in McAllen, Texas. Her parents were migrant workers and traveled the southwest of the United States. She graduated from McAllen High School in 1975.

She attended Texas Southmost College in Brownsville and graduated as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in 1976. In 1980, she received an Associate Degree in Nursing from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. She moved to Arlington, Texas and graduated in 1985 from the University of Texas with Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She received her Master Science in Nursing in 1993 from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. She later attended Texas A&M University for a post-graduate certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

As an LVN and RN, she was employed in different hospitals throughout the state of Texas. She has been a staff nurse, charge nurse, director of special service, educator, instructor, and clinical nurse specialist.

Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine

Dr. Jose E. Lares joined RGV Adult & Geriatric Medicine Specialists team in 2008. He is a native of San Benito, Texas. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas-Pan American where he achieved a degree in Biology with high honors and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. Dr. Lares earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He went on to receive his specialty training in Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine. His clinical interests include preventative medicine, rehabilitation medicine, hospice and palliative care and hospital medicine. Dr. Lares provides comprehensive outpatient care, medical consultations, and he cares for hospitalized patients at Knapp Medical Center, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance & Weslaco Rehab Hospital.

Born and raised in Pharr, Texas, Rosalba Puente Ruiz has been a lifelong resident of the Rio Grande Valley. She is well versed with the needs of our community. Mrs. Puente is married and a proud mother of two very active boys. Mrs. Puente received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas Pan American in 2000. She completed a Master of Science in Nursing degree in May 2009. Her love of helping those in need began over two decades ago. As a student she worked part time with a local pediatrician, which began her career in the health related professions.

Her nursing experience includes working as a telemetry staff nurse. She also has an extensive working background in surgical services. She served as the Director of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at Doctors Hospital at Renassisance.

In addition, Mrs. Puente is pursuing certification in hospice and palliative care nursing. Mrs. Puente joined RGV Specialists where she hopes to continue on with her mission of helping others.

Dr. Daisy Arce was valedictorian of her class at the University of Panama Medical School. She specialized in Family Medicine at Downstate Medical Center-State University of New York in Brooklyn and is certified by the Board of Family Practice. She was Assistant Professor and Medical Director of the Family Medicine Center at Downstate. In addition she has dedicated her life to Academics and worked as Clerkship Director of Family Medicine for the Medical School at State University of New York at Brooklyn. Dr. Arce has worked in the Health Insurance Business as Associate Medical Director for Health Network America Panama Branch, and took care of more than 20,000 Panamanian insured patients that worked in the Panama Canal Zone. She has published in peer reviewed journals and written chapters in various books in her specialty.

In 2006, she moved in 2006 to the Rio Grande Valley where she joined RGV Adult & Geriatric Medicine Specialists, offering comprehensive medical attention in Adult Care, Geriatrics, Women’s Health, Obesity Management, and Preventive Medicine.